Accommodations

In its hiring and personnel actions, Ithaca College does not discriminate against individuals who have disabilities. The College provides reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities so they can complete the application process or perform their work.

At each new employee’s orientation, the College offers an opportunity for the employee to identify him/herself as an individual with a disability. However, an employee may self-identify as having a disability at any time by contacting the Employee Benefits & Work/Life department in the Office of Human Resources.

Employees may request an accommodation by completing an Accommodation Request Form and submitting it to the Employee Benefits & Work/Life department.

Request forms are available in the Office of Human Resources or on this website. Employee Benefits & Work/Life staff members are available to answer questions regarding reasonable accommodations. Please email questions to dmerriman@ithaca.edu.

All College employees have a legal obligation to maintain confidentiality regarding a staff or faculty member’s disability-related information. To that end, information shall be provided to others only when necessary to facilitate accommodations. All medical documentation shall be maintained in Employee Benefits & Work/Life.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any employee or applicant with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of his or her major life activities is eligible to request a reasonable accommodation. The impairment must be permanent or for an extended duration. Employees and applicants are also eligible if they have a record of such impairment or if they are regarded by others as having such an impairment.

Under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), any employee or applicant with a physical, mental, or medical impairment resulting from anatomical, physiological or neurological conditions will be eligible to request a reasonable accommodation if that impairment prevents the exercise of a normal bodily function. Employees and applicants are also eligible if they have a record of such impairment or if they are regarded by others as having such an impairment.

A major life activity is a function such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working.

A person who is not satisfied with the accommodation(s) provided is encouraged to communicate his or her concerns to the Director of Employee Benefits & Work/Life. In the event that the disagreement is not resolved, the individual should contact the Office of General Counsel at 607-274-3909.

Employees with a current Individual Accommodation Plan on file are eligible to request additional accommodations for unique events or situations that arise. To request an accommodation for a unique situation that is not currently reflected in their Individual Accommodation Plan, employees must complete an additional Request for Accommodation form.

Individuals who have a short term condition that is substantially limiting may request Temporary or Short-Term Accommodations by contacting Employee Benefits & Work/Life at dmerriman@ithaca.edu or 607-274-8000.